Vacuum filling machine



s. B HOAR Feb. 9, 1937.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1935 qfedman 03:

IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEK:

Feb. 9, 1937. s. B. HOAR; 2,070,302

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 70 sxnausr MEANS tflzimam a w? I INVENTOR. 7? W A TTORNEY.

i I fiedmcmvfifiar 1 i y I Feb. 9, 1937. s. B. HOAR 2,070,302

VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 9, 1937. 5,. 5, m I 2,070,302 I VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 POSITION UPPER LOWER CONDITION VAC UM AND JUICE OFF. 1 OPEN TOAIR 2 VACUUM ON.

JUICE OFF.

3 iu JUICE 0M.

7 Aux. VACUUM ON.

VAcUUM AND JUICE OFF. 1 OPEN To A\R INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 9, 1937.

s. B. HOAR VACUUM FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 21, 1955 76 Ex/musr Mew/v5 7 711111111 Illa/III III/l A E Emma/5r MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES.

"PATENT OFFICE" vacuum FILLING mom Stedman B. Hoar, Newport Beach,'0alii'., {ssignor to Natural Food Products Company, Orange, Calif., a corporation of Delaware v Application September 21, 1935, Serial No. 41,538

Claims. (Cl. 226-116) My invention relates to vacuum filling-machines, for filling deaerated liquids into. cans.

Heretofore, in machines of this sort, it has been customary to place, over the top of the container to be filled, a pad or stopper carrying oneor more pipes for the ingress of theliquid with which the container is to befilled, and for the egress of the air from within the container. In some cases these pipes were placed one within the other, so as to make a single entry through the pad. In some cases the two pipes were joined just abovethepad; or, to effect the same purpose, both entered the liquid reservoir of the filling-machine, but separately, and usually at different levels. The art of exhausting and filling the container by means of a hermetic pad placed over the top of the container is an old and varied one; and yet, in spite of many ingenious variants, has never been wholly successful.

There was an early device which partially exhausted the container, but left the reservoir under atmospheric pressure, which pressure thus forced the liquid into .the container. The air. conduit was connected to a vacuum "system, and a complicated arrangement of valves and traps was employed to prevent the excess liquid, when the container became filled, from being sucked into the vacuum system through the air conduit.

More recently, refinements in the deaeration of liquid food products have necessitated that the liquid be protected from exposure to, or reentry of, air, from the time of deaeration until the liquid had been filled into the container. This has necessitated maintaining the liquid under a fairly high vacuum in the reservoir of the fillingmachine, and then filling it into a container initially subjected to the same fairly high vacuum. The container must be evacuated before the liquid inlet is opened, so that there will be no airpressure within the container to blow back through the liquid inlet, thus reaerating the deaerated liquid.

The evacuation pipe may pass directly from the filling pad to the vacuum system; or preferably to the space above the liquid in the reservoir, and thence to the vacuum system. This latter arrangement produces initially a balanced pressure in the reservoir and in the container, so that the liquid can flow by gravity from the former to the latter.

The production and maintenance of this balanced pressure is essential to the even and uniform filling of successive containers; for obviously any excess 'of pressure in a container over that in the reservoir will tend to prevent the liquid from flowing into it; and, if this back-pressure varies from one container to the next, the fill of the containers, will vary.

The production of this balanced pressure has always proved to be simple enough of attainment. But its maintenance has heretofore run up against .the following insuperable dilemma.

If the evacuation pipe be closed during the ingress of the liquid, the residual air in the container will be entrapped at the top of the container, together with any air which may leak in between the pad and the edge of the container.

This leakage is likely to be considerable; be-

cause of the difiiculty of securing a perfect seal between the pad and the frequently slightly irregular edge of the tin.

On the other hand, if the evacuation pipe be left open' during the ingress'of the liquid; then, if the evacuation pipe leads direct to the vacuum system, liquid is certain to be sucked into it, thus damaging the pump, interfering with its proper and complete functioning, and wasting the liquid; whereas, if the "evacuation pipe leads to .the reservoir, mived air and liquid find their way therethrough to mingle with the deaerated air in the reservoir, and thus ruin its deaeration.

The above triple dilemma has been only particularly solved by complicated systems of traps and valves.

It is accordingly the principal object of the present invention to'provide a simple and uncomplicated machine which shall automatically exhaust the air from the cans to be filled, and shall then automatically fill the cans uniformly, without reaerating the liquid in the system, and

. without sucking the liquid into the vacuum part of the system.

My invention consists in the novel parts, and in the combinations and arrangements thereof, which are defined in the appended claims.

Throughout the description, the same reference-number is applied to the same member or similar members.

Figurel is a plan view of my revolving fillingmachine.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of my machine, taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the valves shown solid in Figure 1, taken along the lines 33 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of this valve taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a. horizontal section of this valve taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the three successive positions of both, levels of my valve, throughout the cycle of operation of my machine.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are vertical sections of parts of four variants of my machine, the rest of each variant being as shown in Figure 2.

Beginning with Figure 2, we see that II is a pedestal, carrying an annular cam rail l2. I3 is the main drive-shaft from a motor (not shown). By means of bevel gears I4 and I5, this shaft transmits its rotation to a vertical shaft l6,

which turns the table I! and a spillage-tray I8.

Except between the two small arrows of Fig-' ure 1, which indicate the ingress of an empty can to the filler and the egress of a filled can therefrom (which ingress and egress may be effected in any conventional manner not shown), the cam rail I2 is of sufflcient height to hold the can 24 in sealing contact with its pad 23.

For the detail of a valve-mechanism 22, turn now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, in which 23 is the sealing pad, 25 the valve-seat, 28 the valve, and 21 the valve-stem. Hole 28 is for the admission of juice, hole 29' is ror the admission of air, and hole 38 for the extraction of air, i. e., is the vacuum line.

Hole 3| is an auxiliary hole, connecting with the vacuum system.

The valve has an axially located vertical hole 32, and connecting therewith a horizontal hole 33 to contact selectively: juice-hole 28, air-hole 29, and vacuum-hole *30.

The valve also has another and smaller vertical hole 34, set oil-center, and connecting therewith a small horizontal hole 35, to contact, in appropriate positions, auxiliary vacuum hole 3|.

In the axial center of vertical hole 32, there is secured a rod 36 carrying a headspace-gauge 31, the object of which is to displace suflicient liquid to secure a uniform headspace in the cans.

Each-valve-stem 21 carries a star-wheel 38, which serves to revolve the valve to its various positions.

Turning to Figure 1, we see that a ring 39, which does not revolve with the table, supports successive pairs of pins 40, 4| and 44, to contact the points of the star-wheels 38, and thus operate it should be remarked that it is customary to' have each star-wheel 38 so connected to its corresponding pad 23, that it will remain below the level of the pins, unless there is a can beneath the pad in question, lifting up the pad, and hence lifting up the star wheel. The object of this provision is obvious, namely to prevent the exhausting of the air from nothing, and the filling of juice into nothing, when there is no can there.

Reverting now to Figure 2, we shall consider the reservoir l9. Pipe 45, which does not revolve, enters the top of the reservoir through airtight packing 46; it leads to a vacuum pump (not shown). Pipe 41, which does not revolve, enters the top of the reservoir, through a sealed contact with pipe 45; it leads from a source of juice (not shown).

. A fioat 48, controlling the main juice-valve 48, by means of linkage 50, maintains the juice at a constant level within the reservoir.

From the top of the reservoir l9, a vacuumpipe 5| leads to vacuum hole 30 of each valvemechanism 22.

From the bottom of the reservoir IS, a juicepipe 52 leads to juice-hole 28 each valve-mechanism 22.

From the top of reservoir |9, an auxiliary vacuum-pipe 53 leads to auxiliary vacuum hole 3| of each valve-mechanism 22.

For diagrammatic simplicity, pipe 52 is shown in Figure 2 entering the valve-mechanisms 22 at a difierent level from pipe 5|, instead of at the same level, as it actually does. Compare Figure 3.

Now comparing Figures 1 and 6, we shall see how my apparatus operates.

The empty can 24 enters at the small entering arrow of Figure 1. The table rotates clockwise in that figure. The cam-rail |2 slopes upward, forcing the can into sealing contact with pad 23, and lifting the star-wheel 38 into the level of the pins.

The valve is in position of Figure 6; open to the air, and closed to both vacuum and juice.

As the star 38 passes pins 40, they engage two of its points, and thereby rotate it 120 counterclockwise.

The valve is now in position 2 of Figure 6: closed to the air and to the juice, but open to evacuation.

By the time that the star 38 reaches pins 4|, the can 24 has been evacuated to the same degree as the reservoir I9. As the star passes pins 4|, they engage two of its points, and thereby rotate it 120 counter-clockwise.

The valve is now in position 3 of Figure 6: closed to the air and to the main evacuation line 5|, but open to the juice, and to auxiliary evacuation line 53. As the juice flows in. it sets up no back-pressure, for the rarified head-space air in the can, as it is compressed by the influx of the juice, is carried off through the auxiliary vacuum-line.

When the can is filled clear up to the pad 23, the can can be filled no fuller; although the juice will continue to pass through the can until it the juice in reservoir I9.

Pins 44 then turn the valve to position of .Figure 6: juice and vacuum both off, and can open to the air, thus relieving the suction on the pad, and permitting the can to lower, as the camrail |2 presently drops; The liquid level in the cam then falls by the amount displaced by headspace-gauge 31, thus avoiding spillage.

The filled can is then carried ofi at the outgoing small arrow of Figure 1.

It may be asked why my provision of two vacuum lines from the valve-mechanism 22, instead of the single line of the prior art, obviates the difliculties recited at the beginning of this specification. The reason is as follows:

As already stated, the juice rises in position 3 in auxiliary vacuum-pipe 53to the level of the juice in the reservoir l9; but, as the air was all out of the can before this occurred, there is no air to be sucked through this juice to reaerate it.

However, it will be said, this would be equally true if the main vacuum-pipe 5| were on at this time, instead of the auxiliary pipe 53. Correctthus far. what would take place, when we come to positions 2 and 3 with the next can.

If it were the main vacuum pipe that was full of juice, then in position 2 the air from the can would be sucked through the juice, thoroughly aerating it, and most of the thus thoroughly aerated juice would trickle down into the can to contaminate the deaerated juice later filled into it. Some of the aerated juice would be blown up into the top of the reservoir, to get into the But compare what takes place, with rises in auxiliary vacuum pipe 53 to the level of voir.

vacuumpump and/or contaminate the juice in the reservoir.

But in invention, with the main vacuumpipe 5| clear, this does not happen- Then, when we turn the valve to position I, inasmuch as the can has already been" exhausted by p sition 2 to the same degree'qi vacuum as the top of the reservoir, the juice will completely drain from the auxiliary pipe 53 into the can at the very start of the filling-operation. Thus there is not even any stagnation of juice in this pipe.

It may be asked: why not do away with the small vertical hole 34 and the small horizontal hole 35 invalve-proper 20, and then run auxiliary vacuum-line 53 into juice-hole, 28, or so close to it that hole "will serve lines It and 52' simultaneously? The reason is that, in position my invention, which would not be possible in I the prior art. For example vacuum-pipe 5|, inasmuch as it never sucks-in any juice might well run as shown at Bla in Figure 7, direct to. the vacuum-pump (not shown), rather than to the top of the reservoir l9. But it is convenient to have it run to the top of the reservoir, for two reasons: (1) my arrangement facilitates equalizing the pressure in the can to that in the reservoir; and (2), in a revolving filler, my arrangement eliminates the necessity of more than one stumng-box l8.

And my auxiliary vacuum-pipe 53 could well unite with pipe BI, and the two could enter the reservoir I9 together, provided that the juncture occurs above the level of the liquid in the reservoir, all as, shown in Figure 8.

And, by the same token, my auxiliary vacuumpipe could run, as shown at 53a in Figure 9, di-

rect to the vacuum-pump, provided that the pipe rose above the level of the liquid in reser- The features oi Figures 7 and 9 could, furthermore, be combined in one machine as shown in Figure 10.

In the variants oi Figures 7, 8 and 10, in view of the fact that part of the machine rotates and part does not, it will be necessary for pipe Bia and/or pipe 53a to pass to the exhaust means by way of a stufling-box.. 'One such is conventionally shown, in which 60 revolves with shaft l6, and BI remains stationary with base Il, and from which pipe 62 leads 'to the exhaust means (not shown).

It is to be understood that the substitution of pipe 5ia for pipe 5|, and oipipe 53a for pipe 53,

" of parallel vacuum conduits.

When, in the claims,'I refer to preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir, and

to-certain lines as entering the reservoir above the liquid level thereof, this requirement would be satisfied if we were to consider a portion of might completely fill, nevertheless a given maximum level could be maintained in pipe 41, and

, pipe 45 and lines ll and 53 could enter pipe 41 above that level.

Having now described and illustrated one form of my invention; I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to the specific arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, or even to the variants suggested, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1 In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination oi: a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for, admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level oi the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a containeragainst the atmosphere; a valve, having three selectivepositions, namely, (1) open to the airconduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and toboth oi the vacuum lineshereinaiter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the'auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to theair conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting ,the valve to the air; a main vacuum line, and a distinct auxiliary vacuum line, each separately connecting the valve to the reservoir above-the liquid level therein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container; and automatic means for successively, with respect to each container to be filled, sealing the container, setting the valve to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1,

and then unsealing the container.

2. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for holding liquid undera partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a valve; a conduit connecting the valve to the air; a main vacuum line, and a distinct auxiliary vacuum, line, each separately connecting the valve to the reservoir above the liquid leveltherein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; and a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container.

3. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for venting the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir;

means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoirfior sealing a container against the atmosphere; avalve, in the sealing means,

having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve to the air; a main vacuum line, and a distinct auxiliary vacuum line, each separately connecting the valve to admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preliquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; and a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container.

4. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a valve, having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits. and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve to the air; a main vacuum line and a distinct auxiliary vacuum line each separately connecting the valve to the reservoir above the liquid level therein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-leveltherein; a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container,.setting the valve to these three positions in the followingorder, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

5. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination'ofz a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir and for preventing the liquid from completely filling it; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid inthe reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosphere; valve means, having three selective positions, namely, 1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line a v and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line directly connecting the valve means to the exhausting means; a distinct auxiliary vacuum line separately connecting the valve means to the reservoir above the liquid levJ therein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and automatic means for successively, with respect to each container to be filled,'sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

6. In a. machine for filling liquid into contain-' v ers, the combination of, a reservoir for holding- .liquid under a partial vacuum; means'for admit- (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter-described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquidconduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line directly connecting the valvemeans to the exhausting means; a distinct auxiliary vacuum line separately connecting the valve means to the reservoir above the liquid-level therein; 'a liquid conduit connecting the valve meansto the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

7. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means for sealing a container against theatmosphere; valve means, having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line and a distinct auxiliary vacuum lineeach connected to the valve means, and exhaustible by the exhausting means; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container, and automatic means for successively, with respect to each container to be filled, sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container; the auxiliary vacuum line being characterized by passing above the level of the liquid in the reservoir.

8. In a-machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of, a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; valve means, having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described,

(2) open to the main'vacuum line and closed to vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to .the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line and a distinct auxiliary vacuum line each connected to the valve means, and exhaustible by the exhausting means; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container;

and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: -1, 2, 3,. 1, and then unsealing the container; the auxiliary vacuum line being characterized by passing above the level of the liquid in the reservoir.-

9. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the-reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling thereservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir,

for sealing a containeragainst the atmosphere; a valve having threeselective positions, namely,

(1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to,both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuumline and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line.

vacuum line each connecting the valve to a common entry to the reservoir above the liquid level therein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container;

and automatic means for successively, with respect to eachcontainer to be filled, sealing the container, setting the valve to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3; 1, and then unsealing the container.

10. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum;\means for admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a valve a conduit connecting the valve to the air; a main vacuum line and an auxiliary vacuum line each connecting the valve to a common entry to the. reservoir above the liquid level therein; a

liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; and a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container.

11. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for holding liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquidto the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at .a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a valve, having three selective positions, namely, 1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vac-' uum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits g to the air; a main vacuum line and an auxiliary vacuum line each connecting the valve to a common entry to the reservoir above the liquid level therein; a liquid conduit connecting the'valve to i the reservoir below the liquid level therein; and

a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container.

12. In a machine for filling liquid into containrs, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid under.a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir, and for preventing the liquid from completely filling the reservoir; means for exhausting the reservoir; means, at a level below the level of the liquid in the reservoir, for sealing a container against the atmosph re; a valve, having three selective positions, na ely, (1) open to they air conduit hereinafter described and'closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open. to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit andto the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve to the air; a main vacuum line and an auxiliary vacuum line each connecting .the valve to a common entry to the reservoir above the liquid level therein; a liquid conduit connecting the valve to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, setting the valve to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

13. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of a reservoir for hold; ing liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; exhausting means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; valve means having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line andan auxiliary vacuum line each connected to the valve means, and exhaustible by the exhausting means; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and automatic means for successively, with respect ,to eachcontainer to be filled, sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three. positions .in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

14. In amachine for filling liquid into con-' tainers, the combination of, a reservoir for hold ing liquid under a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; exhausting means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphre; valve means having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to both of the vacuum lines hereinafter described, (2) open to the main vacuum line and closed to the air and liquid conduits and to the auxiliary vacuum line, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the auxiliary vacuum line and closed to the air conduit and to the main vacuum line; a

conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a main vacuum line and an auxiliary vacuum line each connected to the valve means, and exhaustible by the exhausting means; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, settingthe valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

15. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquidunder a partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; exhausting means; a vacuum circuit, exhaustible by the exhausting means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; valve means having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to the vacuum circuit, (2) open to the vacuum circuitand closed. to the air and liquid conduits, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the vacuum circuit and closed to the air conduit; a conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and automatic means for successively, with respect to each container to be filled, sealing the container, setting the valve means to, these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

16. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holdn liquid under a'partial vacuum; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; exhausting means; a vacuum circuit, exhaustible by the exhausting means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; valve means having three selective positions, namely, (1) open to the air conduit hereinafter described and closed to the liquid conduit hereinafter described and to the vacuum circuit, (2) open tothe vacuum circuit and closed to the air and liquid conduits, and (3) open to the liquid conduit and to the vacuum circuit and closed to the air conduit; 9.

conduit connecting the valve means to the air; a liquid conduit connecting the valve means to the reservoir below the liquid-level therein; a conduit connecting the valve means to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, setting the valve means to these three positions in the following order, namely: 1, 2, 3, 1, and then unsealing the container.

17. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: exhausting means; a

liquid reservoir, exhaustible -by the exhausting means; means for admitting liquid to the reservoir; a vacuum circuit. exhaustible by theexhaustlng means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a vacuum release conduit; aliquid conduit, connected to the reservoir below the liquid level therein; valve means. adapted to connect the circuit and the two con-' duits at will to the sealed container; and means for carrying containers progressively through the machine, and as each container progresses, for successively sealing the container, setting the valve means to connect the vacuum circuit to the sealed container, setting the valve means at least once to connect the,liquid conduit to admit liquid to the container, and simultaneously to connect the vacuum circuit to the sealed container, setting the valve means to close the vacuum circuit and the liquid conduit and open the release conduit, and finally unsealing the container.

18. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid constantly under partial vacuum; means for sealing acontainer against the atmosphere; means for reducing pressure within said container before admitting liquid thereto; means for'then conveying liquid from the reservoir to the container; means operable, while the liquid conveying means is operating, to maintain the reduction of pressure in the container; and means for then unsealing the container; the re-' duced-pressure-maintaining means serving also to receive any overflow from the filled container and to deliver said overflow to the next succeeding container which occupies the place of the first-mentioned container.

19. In a machine for filling liquid into containers, the combination of: a reservoir for holding liquid constantly under partial vacuum; a single valve element, automatic in its movement for each container passing through the machine; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; means for reducing pressure within said container before admitting liquid thereto; means for then conveying liquid from the reservoir to the container; means operable, while the liquid conveying means is, operating, to maintain the reduction of pressure in the container; and means for then unsealing the container; the reducedpressure-maintaimng means serving also to receive any overflow from the filled container and to deliver said overflow to the next succeeding container to occupy the place of the first-mentioned container; the last four mentioned means being operative in the sequence indicated through the movement of the valve element.

20. In a machine for filling liquids into containers the combination of: exhausting means; a liquid reservoir, exhaustible by the exhausting means; means for sealing a container against the atmosphere; a two-part vacuum circuit, exhaustible by the exhausting means; a circuit for conveying liquid from the reservoir to the container; means for successively connecting these circuits to the container and disconnecting them therefrom, in such order that the vacuum circuit will exhaustthe container before the liquid is conveyed to the container, that a part of the vacuum circuit while still connected to the exhausting means, will receive excess liquid from the container while said liquid conveying circuit is operative, and that this part of the vacuum circuit will be closed to each container during the exhaustion thereof until the liquid conveying circult is opened to that container, thereby preventing reaeration of the liquid thus trapped in this part of the vacuum circuit; and means for unsealing the container, without thereby releasing the vacuum in the reservoir.

STEDMAN B. HOAR. 

